Twelve state-bred stakes — eight for Thoroughbreds and four for Quarter Horses — will be contested on Sunday, New Mexico Cup Day at Zia Park in Hobbs.
A total of 114 New Mexico-breds — 74 Thoroughbreds and 40 Quarter Horses — have been entered, and $1,506,880 in purses will be offered. Following is a preview of all 12 stakes, listed in the order in which they will be run.
NEW MEXICO CUP 870 CHAMPIONSHIP (RG3)
Purse, $100,000 — 870 yards
3-year-olds & older
Moonflash Cat, a 5-year-old First Moonflash gelding racing for Mario A. Ortega, is the morning-line favorite for Sunday’s $100,000 New Mexico Cup 870 Championship (RG3).
Moonflash Cat has won five of 25 races and has earned $144,526, and his four wins in 16 outs at the 870-yard distance include a 2 3/4-length victory in last year’s New Mexico Cup 870 Championship. The gelding drew post 3 and will be ridden by Luis Negron for trainer Sherry Armstrong.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
El Tarasco 727 (Noe Garcia Jr.), 10-1
Call Me Kash (Hector Aldrete), 15-1
Moonflash Cat (Luis Negron), 9-5
Bigg Jack (Juan Carlos Rivas), 10-1
Mr Big (Miguel Perez), 15-1
Dan The Flashman (Alejandro Medellin), 9-2
Noreason Fordiamonds (Edgar Martinez) 6-1
Why Buy The Cow (Tracy Hebert), 5-2
NAMEHIMASTREAKER NEW MEXICO CUP QUARTER HORSE CHAMPIONSHIP (RG1)
Purse, $100,000 — 440 yards
3-year-olds & older
No Mires A La Luna, a two-time graded stakes winner during the Ruidoso Downs summer meet, heads a field of 12 state-bred aged runners in Sunday’s Namehimastreaker New Mexico Cup Championship (RG1).
Trained by Marc Jungers for owner Byron Woodard, No Mires A La Luna is a homebred 5-year-old son of First Moonflash. The gelding is coming off of a wire-to-wire, half-length victory as the 2-1 favorite in the 400-yard, $50,000 Jess Burner Handicap (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs on September 4.
No Mires A La Luna has banked $514,065 from 25 races, and he won one of his three starts during the 2021 Remington Park spring meet. The gelding drew post 7 and will be ridden by Lucas Constantin.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Marcus Medallion (Adrian Ramos), 6-1
Freedom Flash (Alfredo Sigala), 15-1
Effortless Candy Cat (Francisco Calderon), 10-1
Colby James (Mario Delgado), 9-2
Burn One Down For Me (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 8-1
Your Easy Jess (Edgar Martinez), 12-1
No Mires A La Luna (Lucas Constantin), 3-1
Flashing Moolah (Tanner Thedford), 4-1
Diamond And A Half (Alan Hernandez), 20-1
Don Chuy C (Manuel Gutierrez), 8-1
AE-Hatchi Zulu (Jose A. Alvarez), 15-1
AE-First Apollo Moon (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 20-1
NEW MEXICO CUP QUARTER HORSE DERBY (RG2)
Purse, $205,940 — 400 yards
3-year-olds
Rex Wells’ Bigg Dee, a multiple stakes winning bay son of Big Daddy Cartel, drew post 8 for Sunday’s 400-yard, $205,940 New Mexico Cup Derby (RG2).
Trained by James Gonzales II, Bigg Dee is coming off of a summer campaign during which the gelding won a pair of 400-yard stakes — the July 31, $203,000 Zia Derby (RG2) at Ruidoso Downs, and the September 19, $238,000 New Mexico State Fair Derby (R) at Albuquerque Downs. All told, Bigg Dee has won eight of 14 starts, including five of eight at the 400-yard trip — and he has earned $326,560.
Mario Delgado will ride Bigg Dee on Sunday.
Fastest qualifier Chicky Chicky Kai ran second, one length behind Bigg Dee, in the New Mexico State Fair Derby. Trained by Larry Chavez for owner Mike G. Parker, the chestnut daughter of Jess A Chicks is coming off of a neck victory in the first of two trials on October 11.
Chicky Chicky Kai drew post 10 and will be ridden by Sergio Becerra Jr.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Mallone (Raul Hernandez Jr.), 15-1
Hollyn Bootie (Tanner Thedford), 4-1
Dragon On Ice (Alan Hernandez), 20-1
Nolans Dragon (Bonifacio Perez), 30-1
Roll Big River (Juan Carlos Rivas), 30-1
Leading Cartel (Adrian Ramos), 15-1
Sheza Fast Jesse (Christian Ramos), 12-1
Bigg Dee (Mario Delgado), 8-5
Woodys Gold (Francisco Calderon), 5-1
Chicky Chicky Kai (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 7-2
NEW MEXICO CUP QUARTER HORSE FUTURITY (RG2)
Purse, $300,940 — 350 yards
2-year-olds
Fastest qualifier Flashin Fire will risk his win streak in Sunday’s $300,940 New Mexico Cup Futurity (RG2).
A gelded son of First Moonflash trained by Santos Carrizales Jr. for owner Josefina Guzman, Flashin Fire was claimed for $20,000 at Remington Park on April 11. He has earned $144,549 from five races, and his current three-race win streak includes a neck victory in the 400-yard, $320,000 Zia Futurity (RG1) on August 1 at Ruidoso Downs.
Flashin Fire drew the rail post and will be ridden by Juan Pulido. Other contenders include LMG First Call, a homebred First Moonflash gelding trained by Mike Joiner for owner LMG Racing Inc. LMG First Call has banked $29,308 from six starts, and his two wins include a neck victory in the 400-yard, $50,000 Zia Juvenile Stakes (R) at Ruidoso Downs on August 1.
The third-fastest qualifier, LMG First Call drew post 4 and will be ridden by Jose Amador Alvarez.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Flashin Fire (Juan Pulido), 8-5
Rally Up The Alley (Francisco Calderon), 30-1
Smittin (Raul Hernandez Jr.), 30-1
LMG First Call (Jose A. Alvarez), 9-2
Illegal Review (Felipe Garcia-Luna), 20-1
Liarliarlegsonfire (Jorge Torres), 5-1
RZ Richy (Noe Garcia Jr.), 15-1
Jesses Dinero (Sergio Becerra Jr.), 12-1
Daddies Wish (Adrian Ramos), 4-1
Jess Ring The Bell (Mauro Salcedo), 10-1
NEW MEXICO CUP OAKS CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-old fillies
Seven state-bred sophomore fillies, headed by morning-line choice Proofisnthepuddin, are entered in Sunday’s $100,000 New Mexico Cup Oaks Championship (R).
A chestnut daughter of the Bernardini stallion Marking racing for Reliance Ranches LLC, Proofisinthepuddin is coming off of a 2 3/4-length victory in a 6-furlong, $41,000 non-winners-of-three allowance for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies at Zia Park on October 11. The filly has won three of eight starts and has earned $88,224.
Proofsinthepuddin drew the rail post and will be ridden by Roimes Chirinos for trainer Todd Fincher.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Proofsinthepuddin (Roimes Chirinos), 4-5
Desertrose Oftexas (Rodolfo Guerra), 20-1
Speedy Wildcat (Miguel Fuentes Jr.), 6-1
Fill The Bill (Enrique Gomez), 12-1
Marking Time (Luis Negron), 7-2
Line Call (Francisco Amparan), 6-1
Quatro (Jimmy Ray Coates), 10-1
NEW MEXICO CUP DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-old colts & geldings
A winner of his last four outs, Fincher Racing LLC’s One Mark heads a field eight 3-year-old colts and geldings entered in Sunday’s $100,000 New Mexico Cup Derby Championship (R).
One Mark is a gelded son of Marking trained by Todd Fincher. One Mark has earned $137,138 from nine races in New Mexico, and his current win streak includes a wire-to-wire, 8 1/4-length victory in the 1-mile, $100,000 Casino at The Downs Derby (R) for New Mexico-bred sophomores at Albuquerque Downs.
One Mark drew post 1 and will be ridden by Rodolfo Guerra.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
One Mark (Rodolfo Guerra), 6-5
Izeright (Miguel Perez), 5-2
Cheese Tray (Aldo Arboleda), 9-2
Tucum (Enrique Gomez), 8-1
Aisle Runner (Luis Fuentes), 12-1
Champ Spirit (Luis Ramon Rodriguez), 10-1
Ilikerollin (Rigo Sarmiento), 20-1
B A Champion (Jimmy Ray Coates), 30-1
NEW MEXICO CUP LASSIE CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
2-year-old fillies
Bella Dona, a multiple stakes winning Attila’s Storm filly, heads a field of eight 2-year-old fillies entered in Sunday’s New Mexico Cup Lassie Championship (R).
Trained by Simon Buechler for owners Robert Driggers, Del Rae Driggers, and Ben Lee Ivey, Bella Dona has won four of five races and has earned $195,068. The filly has won two stakes — the August 15, $125,000 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs, and the September 19, $235,000 New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity (R) at Albuquerque Downs.
Bella Dona drew post 7 and will be ridden by Jimmy Ray Coates.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Emmys Silver (Rigo Sarmiento), 30-1
Sunny Jewel (Enrique Gomez), 6-1
Running For Grace (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 10-1
Bernice Who (Rodolfo Guerra), 10-1
Hear Me Roar (Aldo Arboleda), 20-1
Indian Excellence (Alfredo Sigala), 10-1
Bella Dona (Jimmy Ray Coates), 3-5
Foxy Red (Luis Negron), 6-1
NEW MEXICO DISTAFF SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Tight Fittin Jeans, a 4-year-old daughter of the Indian Charlie stallion Shame On Charlie, is the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s $100,000 New Mexico Distaff Sprint Championship (R).
Racing for Delinda M. Green, Corie O’Connor, and trainer Greg Green, Tight Fittin Jeans has won five of 11 outs — including last year’s Sierra Starlet Handicap (R) on a muddy and sealed track at Ruidoso Downs — and she has earned $140,026. The filly has won two of her four starts at Zia Park.
Tight Fittin Jeans drew post 3 and will be ridden by Enrique Gomez.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Shesapackinpunches (Alejandro Medellin), 30-1
Tutta Terlingua (Luis Negron), 20-1
Tight Fittin Jeans (Enrique Gomez), 6-5
Lemon Drop Gold (Christian Ramos), 8-1
Sheza Dandy R F (Casey R. Chavez), 6-1
Blue Blazes Who (Francisco Amparan), 4-1
Sexy Bikini Model (Rigo Sarmiento), 15-1
Let It Roll (Rodolfo Guerra), 7-2
NEW MEXICO CUP JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
2-year-old colts & geldings
Ten 2-year-old colts and geldings are entered in Sunday’s New Mexico Cup Juvenile Championship (R).
Action Junky, a stakes-placed Marking gelding campaigned by Fincher Racing LLC and Randy Geiselman, is coming off of a second-place finish, 3 1/2 lengths behind winner Bella Dona, in the September 19, 6-furlong New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity (R) at Albuquerque Downs. Action Junky has earned $53,436 from three races.
Action Junky is one of five starters produced by Streakin Excess, a winning and stakes-placed In Excess (IRE) mare, and he is a half brother to the multiple stakes placed Franchise Tagged. The gelding drew post 6 and will be ridden by Roimes Chirinos for trainer Todd Fincher.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Mark’s Warrior (Alfredo Sigala), 10-1
Zenfully Zesty (Luis Negron), 8-1
Lead Monterey (Aldo Arboleda), 5-1
Reads Pet Zenon (Tracy Hebert), 10-1
Rig Rider (Casey R. Chavez), 12-1
Action Junky (Roimes Chirinos), 3-1
Lonzo Who (Rodolfo Guerra), 6-1
Wheres Brayden (Enrique Gomez), 7-2
Truely Right (Juan Carlos Rivas), 20-1
Real Penny (Jose M. Vasquez), 12-1
PEPPERS PRIDE NEW MEXICO CUP DISTAFF CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 1 mile
Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older
Slammed (pictured), a 3-year-old daughter of Marking who has won her last four races by a total of 31 lengths, is the morning-line favorite for Sunday’s 1-mile, $100,000 Peppers Pride New Mexico Cup Distaff Championship (R).
Trained by Todd Fincher for owners Fincher Racing LLC, Brad King, and Suzanne Kirby, Slammed has won five of her six starts and has earned $167,605, and this race will mark her first two-turn start. The filly has won three stakes and is coming off of a 6 1/2-length victory in the September 11, 6 1/2-furlong Petticoat Stakes (R) for state-bred 3-year-old fillies at Albuquerque Downs.
Slammed is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Roll On Diabolical and Smash Ticket, a Midnight Lute filly who ran third in the August 6, $200,000 Sorrento Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. The filly drew post 2 and will be ridden by Tracy Hebert.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Autumn Touch (Enrique Gomez), 10-1
Slammed (Tracy Hebert), 3-5
Shugs Charlie (Luis Ramon Rodriguez), 8-1
Movin On (Miguel Fuentes Jr.), 20-1
Short Pockets (Luis A. Fuentes), 10-1
Mcwend (Francisco Amparan), 12-1
Dancinstardustlady (Alejandro Medellin), 15-1
Passion Belle (Rodolfo Guerra), 12-1
Dixie Jen (Miguel Perez), 30-1
Our Time To Shine (Kelsi Purcell), 15-1
NEW MEXICO CUP SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 6 furlongs
3-year-olds & older
Hollywood Henry, a 6-year-old Roll Hennessy Roll gelding and a stakes winner during the Ruidoso Downs summer meet, drew the rail post for Sunday’s $100,000 New Mexico Cup Sprint Championship (R).
Trained by Fred Danley for owner Bennie A. Vanecek, Hollywood Henry will be stretching out off of his 1 1/4-length victory in an 870-yard, $51,000 open-condition allowance for New Mexico-bred Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses on October 4. The gelding has won two of four outs this season, including the 5 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Sierra Blanca Stakes (R) on July 31.
Hollywood Henry will be ridden by Enrique Gomez.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Hollywood Henry (Enrique Gomez), 2-1
Evacuee (Roimes Chirinos), 8-1
Del Mar Summer (Miguel Fuentes Jr.), 9-2
Strawberry Whisky (Aldo Arboleda), 20-1
Golden Band (Rodolfo Guerra), 8-1
Monterey Secret (Casey R. Chavez), 20-1
Reining Pesos (Alejandro Medellin), 50-1
Stormin Fast (Francisco Amparan), 6-1
Cerveza (Luis Fuentes), 6-1
Hold Me Only (Jimmy Ray Coates), 15-1
Wheredoesthecashgo (Miguel Perez), 12-1
ROCKY GULCH NEW MEXICO CUP CHAMPIONSHIP (R)
Purse, $100,000 — 1 mile
3-year-olds & older
Ancient Land heads a full field of a dozen state-bred Thoroughbreds entered in Sunday’s 1-mile, $100,000 Rocky Gulch New Mexico Cup Championship (R).
A 4-year-old Monterey Jazz gelding trained by Casey Lambert for owners Martin Riley, D. Carroll, C. Scott, and J. Howard, Ancient Land won both of his starts during the Ruidoso Downs summer meet, including the 7 1/2-furlong, $50,000 Land of Enchantment Stakes (R) on July 31. Ancient Land drew the rail post and will be ridden by Luis Negron.
Other contenders include Shining Source, a 10-year-old son of Source racing for Barton Ranch Stables LLC and trainer Terri Rust. Shining Source will be stretching out in distance off of his three-quarter length victory at odds of 17-1 in the September 12, 7-furlong O.D. McDonald Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs.
Shining Source drew post 6 and will be ridden by Aldo Arboleda.
The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
Ancient Land (Luis Negron), 3-1
Storm Bayou (Alfredo Juarez Jr.), 15-1
Spinning Black (Enrique Gomez), 15-1
Thunder Dome (Tracy Hebert), 4-1
Jet N G (Rigo Sarmiento), 6-1
Shining Source (Aldo Arboleda), 10-1
Courage N Order (Francisco Amparan), 15-1
Sunscreen (Rodolfo Guerra), 20-1
Next Affair (Luis A. Fuentes), 15-1
Effort N Results (Miguel Fuentes Jr.), 12-1
Trust N Prayer (Alfredo Sigala), 8-1
West Dawn (Luis Ramon Rodriguez), 8-1